Lake waters in Finland exceptionally warm after record temperatures
The surface waters of lakes across Finland are significantly warmer than usual for this time of year.
The surface water temperature of Pääjärvi lake in the municipality of Karstula in Central Finland was 26 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which is more than five degrees warmer than the seasonal mean.
Elsewhere, in the southern city of Tampere, the surface waters of Näsijärvi, one of Finland’s biggest lakes, was 25 degrees Celsius. The current air temperature in Tampere is 21 degrees.
Recent surveys have also found abundant levels of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, in Pääjärvi, as well as in the nearby Kyyjärvi lake.
The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) reported an increase in the number of sightings of cyanobacteria last week. A link to the last weekly report that features a map designating the areas containing algae can be found here.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Water levels unusually low across Beaufort Delta region, in northwestern Canada, CBC News
Finland: Reindeer struggling to stay cool as unusual heat hits northern Finland, Yle News
Norway: Climate change is driving micro-algae blooms into High Arctic and may affect food chains, says study, Eye on the Arctic
Sweden: Warnings in Sweden about dangerous bacteria in Baltic Sea, Radio Sweden
United States: Algae-related toxins found in Arctic sea mammals, Alaska Dispatch News
